From: Bryce Fair &
Carolyn McCoy

Friday, February 4, 2000

Highlights This Week

Governor Previews Budget
Recommendations: At a Wednesday
press conference, Governor Frank Keating provided an early glimpse into the
budget recommendations he will present to the Legislature on February 7. The Governor’s press release noted several
initiatives related to higher education, including:

·an increase of $40 million in funding for higher
education

·a $250 million bond issue focusing on Tulsa higher
education needs and the Weather Center at the University of Oklahoma in Norman

·elimination of remedial courses at comprehensive and
regional universities

Senate Pro Tempore Proposes
Tobacco Trust Fund: On Tuesday,
Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor boosted discussions about the
possibility of creating a trust fund for the state’s proceeds from the national
tobacco lawsuit settlement. Taylor
announced that he would carry legislation (SB 1404) that could be a vehicle for
any final resolution of the issue.
Taylor emphasized his legislation was currently in preliminary draft
form, and that much discussion would be necessary before a proposal could be
finalized.

Senate Bills Added to Tracking
List: The Oklahoma Senate
introduced over 500 more bills by Monday evening, the final deadline for
introducing legislation. As a result,
we have added more than 70 bills to our tracking list. A few of those with direct higher education
implications include:

·February 7, Monday, 12:30 p.m. (approx.), House
Chamber, Governor’s State of the State address

·February 9, Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Room 432A, State
Capitol, Joint meeting of the House and Senate Appropriation Subcommittees on
Education
Agenda: Presentation and overview of
the Great Expectations program

·February 18, Friday, State Regents Meeting, University
of Oklahoma, Norman

·February 22, Tuesday, 10:00 a.m., State Board of
Equalization
Agenda: Final certification of funds
available for appropriation during the 2000 session

·February 29, Tuesday, Higher Education Day at the State
Capitol

Upcoming Legislative
Deadlines:

February 7, Monday............................................................................... First
Day of Legislative Session................................................................................................... Governor’s
State of the State Address
February 24, Thursday.............................................................. Bills
from Committee of House of Origin
March 16, Thursday.......................................................................... Bills
from Floor of House of Origin
March 30, Thursday.................................................................. Bills
from Committee of Opposite House
April 20, Thursday............................................................................. Bills
from Floor of Opposite House
April 27, Thursday................................................. Deadline
for Requesting Joint Conference Committee
May 26, Friday.................................................................................................... Sine
Die Adjournment

If you are unable to print
copies of the bills in this report, please contact Carolyn McCoy at (405)
225-9165 or e-mail her at “cmccoy@osrhe.edu”.

SB 811 (Shurden/Leist) - RAFFLES. Provides an exemption from lottery and gambling laws for raffles
conducted by a church, an elementary or secondary school, a student group or
parent-teacher organization affiliated with an elementary or secondary school
or a religious, charitable, labor, fraternal, veteran, firefighter, law
enforcement, educational or other type of nonprofit organization. (21 § 1051)
Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB811_int.rtf

SB 824 (Maddox) - ANSWERING MACHINES/VOICE MAIL.
Requires that the primary telephone number at state agencies, including
State System higher education institutions, centers and other constituent
agencies, be answered by an agency employee during normal business hours;
prohibits the use of an answering device on the primary telephone designated to
receive calls from the public during normal business hours or forwarded to a telephone
that is not answered by an employee; provides an exception to allow agencies to
use answering devices to answer calls during other than normal business hours
and calls to other numbers the agency maintains. (74 § 3306) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB824_int.rtf

SB 843 (Helton) - GREAT EXPECTATIONS. Removes
the first-come-first-served criteria for awarding scholarships for teachers and
administrators to attend the Great Expectations Summer Institutes for Teachers;
authorizes the State Board of Education to develop criteria for scholarship
awards. (70 § 6-194.2) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB843_int.rtf

SB 849 (Crutchfield) - TEACHER CERTIFICATION. Modifies criteria for certification in early
childhood education to allow certification of a person who has a child
Development Associate credential and has at least five years’ experience as an
early childhood educator with a Head Start program or with a public school in
the state working in an early childhood education program for children four
years of age and younger. (70 §
11-103.7) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB849_int.rtf

SB 866 (Harrison/Easley) - BOARD OF TESTS FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG
INFLUENCE. Re-creates the Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence,
the chairman of which is the Dean of the OU College of Medicine or the Dean’s
designee. (47 § 759) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB866_int.rtf

SB 875 (Williams/Staggs) - SCHOOL TESTING. Modifies from the 2001-02 school year to the
1999-2000 school year the date for implementation of a norm-referenced test to
be administered to fourth-grade students.
(70 § 1210.508) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB875_int.rtf

SB 888 (Muegge) - AGRICULTURE SEED BANKS.
Creates a 13-member Task Force on Agriculture Seed Banks, the membership
of which includes the Dean of Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agriculture
or a designee. Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB888_int.rtf

SB 897 (Morgan) - STATEPERSONNEL. Modifies the time limit for an employer to
pay wages to an employee to allow the state an additional seven working days
after the end of a pay period; authorizes the Administrator of the Office of
Personnel Management to purchase awards for presentation to state employees as
part of employee recognition activities sponsored by OPM; authorizes
performance-based salary adjustments; modifies other sections relating to the
Oklahoma Personnel Act. (62 § 7.10; 74
§§ 840-1.6A, 840-3.5, 840-5.5) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB897_int.rtf

SB 900 (Haney/Settle) - APPROPRIATIONS. This is a shell bill appropriating to
various education entities including the State Board of Education for
scholarships to the Great Expectations Summer Institutes for Teachers, for
grants for a community education consortium group which is associated with a
State System institution, for monitoring programs for teacher applicants on a
contract basis with a State System institution, for participation in the
National Assessment of Educational Progress, for contracting with the Oklahoma
Alliance for Geographic Education, and to the Teacher Preparation
Commission. (70 § 18.103.1)

SB 954 (Haney/Settle) - APPROPRIATIONS/STATE
REGENTS/PMTC/OCAST/TEACHER PREP/UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS. This is a general appropriations bill which
appropriates to the State Regents, the Physician Manpower Training Commission,
the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST),
Teacher Preparation Commission and the University Hospitals Authority.

SB 974 (Haney/Settle) - CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT/TOBACCO SETTLEMENT. Authorizes the Department of Central
Services to expend certain monies in the Capital Improvement Revolving Fund for
site location, design and architectural work for projects funded by the Tobacco
Settlement Revolving Fund as approved by the Long-Range Capital Planning Commission
and the Contingency Review Board. Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB974_int.rtf

SB 975 (Haney/Settle) - CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT/STATE REGENTS. Authorizes the Department of Central Services
to expend certain monies in the Capital Improvement Revolving Fund for site
location, design and architectural work for projects of the State Regents as
approved by the Long-Range Capital Planning Commission and the Contingency
Review Board. Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB975_int.rtf

SB 984 (Haney/Settle) - APPROPRIATIONS. Appropriates to the State Regents.

SB 990 (Morgan) - RETIREMENT. Provides an
additional opportunity to certain retired or vested members of OTRS to elect to
again be covered under the health, dental and all other insurance benefits
authorized by the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Act, if his or
her spouse loses coverage for any reason.
(74 §§ 1316.2, 1316.3) Bill
text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB990_int.rtf

SB 997 (Morgan) - INSURANCE. This is a shell
bill relating to the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board. (74 § 1308.1)

SB 1001 (Morgan) - EMPLOYEES RECOGNITION.
States legislative intent that the promotion of excellence in the
workplace is a legitimate public purpose; authorizes state agencies, in order
to establish a state government quality program, to establish employee
recognition and incentive programs; authorizes expenditure of
state-appropriated monies for employee recognition ceremonies and the purchase
of recognition awards for presentation to members of work units or individual
employees. (74 § 840-7.1) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1001_int.rtf

SB 1004 (Leftwich) - PRIVATIZATION OF STATE FUNCTIONS. Requires agencies, before contracting to
privatize a function, to determine the fully allocated cost of the current
service delivery system and the existence of an adequate number of vendors to
assure the presence of a competitive market; requires an agency to provide its
employees with a consultant to help prepare an employee proposal or training on
proposal preparation; requires that proposals submitted by agency employees be
considered simultaneously in the bid or proposal process with non-employee bids
and proposals; requires the agency, when evaluating bids and proposals from
private vendors and employees, to consider the full cost of privatizing,
including the cost of contract implementation and monitoring and transitional
costs; requires the agency to certify that the privatization is at least 10
percent below the cost of state operation and that it maintains quality
services. (74 § 589) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1004_int.rtf

SB 1014 (Wilkerson) - ABLE AGENTS/EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS. Requires that Alcoholic Beverage Laws
Enforcement (ABLE) Commission agents appointed beginning July 1, 2000, be at
least 21 years of age and have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college
or university. (37 § 570) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1014_int.rtf

SB 1021 (Maddox) - CAMPUS SECURITY. Authorizes
the governing board of an institution of learning to order disruptive persons
to leave the premises; increases from 30 days to one year the period of
prohibition after being ordered removed from an institution; provides for a
grievance or appeal procedure. (21 §
1376) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1021_int.rtf

SB 1044 (Dunlap) - LEAVE. Requires that state employees, upon
termination of employment in state service be paid $1 for every $2 of the
balance of the terminating employee’s accumulated sick leave. (74 § 840-2.20) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1044_int.rtf

SB 1049 (Rabon) - PRIVATIZATION. Requires state agencies having a budget of
$50,000 or more, before contracting to privatize a function, to perform a
cost-benefit analysis and provide a copy of the report to the Department of
Central Services; requires Central Services to make certain findings. (74 §§ 588, 588.1, 589) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1049_int.rtf

SB 1065 (Herbert) - HIRING. Requires state agency personnel with
decision-making authority in the hiring processes to sign an affidavit that no
improper influences were used in the hiring process of an employee and that he
or she was not contacted by a government official concerning the applicant
being hired; requires the establishment of uniform leave rules and forms to be
used. (74 §§ 840-2.9, 840-2.20, 840-6.2) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1065_int.rtf

SB 1066 (Herbert) - PERSONNEL/HIRING. Prohibits state agencies from contracting
with a staffing agency to fill a classified position once a vacancy has
occurred; requires that persons employed in the unclassified position in a
professional or scientific capacity to make or conduct a temporary and special
inquiry, investigation or examination on behalf of the legislature or
legislative committee or by authority of the Governor be funded from the budget
of the appointing authority; modifies the unclassified service for numerous entities. Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1066_int.rtf

SB 1100 (Stipe) - PUBLIC BIDDING. Removes the felony penalty for the
disclosure by a public agency of the terms of a bid submitted in response to a
bid notice in advance of the time set for the opening of all bids. (61 §§ 116, 118) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1100_int.rtf

SB 1176 (Robinson/Paulk) - PUBLIC
BIDDING. Prohibits public
agencies from requiring for any public construction contract submission of a
project bid based on acquiring or participating in any wrap-up, wrap-around or
controlled insurance program. (61 §
113) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1176_int.rtf

SB 1216 (Morgan) - SALES TAX/CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS. Exempts from state
sales tax sales of tangible personal property or services for use on campus
construction projects for accredited public or private higher education
institutions, when such projects are financed by or through use of nonprofit,
tax-exempt entities. (68 § 1356) Bill
text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1216_int.rtf

SB 1230 (Horner) - Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
Program (OHLAP). Renames the
“Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Act” (OHLAP) as the “Oklahoma Plan Ahead
Student Scholarship Act”; allows Oklahoma residents attending a public high
school in a bordering state pursuant to approval of the State Board of
Education to participate in the program upon approval of the Chancellor. (70 §§
2601/2605, 3953.1) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1230_int.rtf

SB 1239 (Leftwich) - Retirement. Requires the Teachers’ Retirement System of
Oklahoma to provide to a member making application to retire an application to
participate in a retired teachers’ organization along with a form allowing the
member to elect to have dues prorated and withheld from the member’s retirement
benefits; requires such an organization to pay for the cost of applications and
forms. (70 § 17-122) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1239_int.rtf

SB 1243 (Weedn) - SCHOOL TESTING. Changes from May 1, 1999, to Dec. 31, 2000,
the date by which course work must be completed by individuals who successfully
complete a curriculum examination by Aug. 31, 1999. (70 § 6-188) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1243_int.rtf

SB 1246 (Hobson) - LEAVE/NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS. Entitles public employees who are members of
the national guard on inactive duty to a leave of absence for any period of
active duty without loss of status or efficiency rating. (44 § 209) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1246_int.rtf

SB 1252 (Robinson) - TELEMEDICINE. Requires that each nonprofit hospital in the
state receive free of charge, upon written request, one telecommunications line
or wireless connection sufficient for providing telemedicine services the
hospital is equipped to provide; provides that the telecommunications carrier
be entitled to reimbursement from the universal service fund for providing the
line or connection. (17 § 139.109) Bill
text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1252_int.rtf

SB 1305 (Hobson) - FEES. Raises the cap on library automation and
materials fees at State System institutions from $1.50 to $2.25 per semester
credit hour; raises the cap on student activity fees from $42 to $45 per
semester and the cap on student health care fees from $46 to $54. (70 §§
3218.11, 3218.12) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1305_int.rtf

SB 1317 (Snyder) - PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION. Makes the Department of Central Services the
prime or general contractor for all state public construction and repair
projects except road projects. (61 § 301)
Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1317_int.rtf

SB 1320 (Shurden) - REMEDIAL
COURSES. Allows area vo-tech
school districts to offer post-secondary remedial-level courses of instruction
if remedial-level courses are not offered within the boundaries of the district
by a State System institution or a constituent agency of such institution. (70 § 14-130) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1320_int.rtf

SB 1346 (Snyder) - ALLOCATIONS/RESEARCHERS/TECHNOLOGY
TRANSFER. States legislative
intent that the State Regents allocate $1 million in support of each Nobel
Laureate, $500,000 in support of each Hughes Investigator and $250,000 in
support of each National Science Foundation Fellow employed at institutions of
the State System; authorizes the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science
and Technology (OCAST) to contract for establishment, management and oversight
of special projects in technology transfer.
(70 §§ 3241, 5060.30) Bill text:
http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1346_int.rtf

SB 1347 (Williamson) – REMEDIAL EES. Expands supplementary fees that may be
established by the State Regents to include remedial instructional fees of a
maximum $137 per semester credit hour at comprehensive universities, $86 per
semester credit hour at regional universities and $13 per semester credit hour
at two-year colleges. (70 §
3218.10) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1347_int.rtf

SB 1357 (Brown) - TEXTBOOKS. Requires textbook publishers who contract
with State System institutions to furnish textbooks or supplementary course
materials to furnish the materials in a digital electronic format at no
additional cost. (70 § 3241) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1357_int.rtf

SB 1366 (Pruitt) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Authorizes the State and Education Employees
Group Health Insurance Board to contract with preferred provider organizations
(PPOs) and managed care contractors; requires that the monthly premium for
active employees be less than that for retirees under 65 years of age; requires
the Board to offer the same plans as those offered by the State Employees
Benefits Council and at the same premium rate.
Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1366_int.rtf

SB 1377 (Robinson) - TOBACCO SETTLEMENT. Creates a Tobacco Settlement Endowment Fund
comprising monies received by the state in settlement of claims against tobacco
manufacturers; designates that the funds be used for health-care services. (62 § 50)
Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1377_int.rtf

SB 1393 (Ford) - TEACHER FORGIVABLE LOANS.
States legislative intent that the State Regents establish a teacher
forgivable loan program for students planning to teach math or science in an
Oklahoma public secondary school. (70 §
698.3) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1393_int.rtf

SB 1395 (Monson) - TOBACCO SETTLEMENT.
Requires that 50 percent of the monies received by the state in settlement
of claims against tobacco manufacturers be deposited in a Tobacco Settlement Endowment
Fund and 50 percent be deposited to a Tobacco Settlement Appropriations Fund;
designates that at least 90 percent of the appropriated funds be used for
health-care services. (62 § 50) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1395_int.rtf

SB 1408 (Monson) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Requires that the monthly premiums for
certain health-care plans be the same for active employees as for retirees
under 65 years of age; requires the Board to offer mail-order prescriptions and
to provide a maximum calendar-year benefit for the state dental plan of no less
than $2,000. (74 §§ 1304, 1306, 1371)
Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1408_int.rtf

SB 1410 (Monson) - EMPLOYEES BENEFITS.
Modifies the state employee benefit allowance to the greater of $262.19
per month or an amount equal to the average price of all high-option plans
offered. (74 § 1370) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1410_int.rtf

SB 1414 (Henry) - WORKERS' COMPENSATION.
Provides for liability of the employer or the employer's insurance carrier
for the degree of percent of disability which would have resulted from the subsequent
injury if there had been no preexistent impairment. (85 § 3, 10, 22, 42, 92, 172/175) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1414_int.rtf

SB 1454 (Henry) - WORKERS' COMPENSATION.
Requires the 20 largest Workers’ Compensation insurers in Oklahoma to
file for approval a filing containing prospective loss costs and supporting actuarial
and statistical data for Workers’ Compensation insurance; prohibits a Workers’
Compensation insurer from issuing or renewing a policy the premium for which is
more than its filed rate or more than 15 percent below its filed rate without
approval of the board. (36 §§ 901.5,
902.1) Bill text:

SB 1594 (Wilcoxson) - SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT. Sets standards for school improvement and student
learning; directs the State Board of Education and the State Regents to work
with school districts and higher education institutions to ensure that an
implementation schedule is developed and resources prioritized to achieve the
standards by the end of 2007; provides standards for higher education. (70 § 103.9) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1594_int.rtf

SB 1598 (Coffee) - ELECTRONIC COMMERCE.
Repeals the "Electronic Records and Signature Act of 1998" and
creates the "Uniform Electronic Transaction Act"; provides that the
act applies only to transactions between parties that have agreed to conduct
transactions by electronic means; provides that if a law requires a record to
be in writing an electronic record satisfies the law; provides that if a law requires
a signature, an electronic signature satisfies the law; outlines the
applicability of act to certain types of transactions; provides for evidentiary
admissibility of electronic records and signatures; outlines exceptions;
provides that a contract may be formed by interaction of electronic agents of
the parties; provides that an electronic record is sent if certain conditions
are met; designates procedures to be followed regarding transferable records;
requires state agencies to determine whether and the extent to which they will
create and retain electronic records and convert written records to electronic
records; repeals sections which relate to legal effect, validity,
enforceability and retention of electronic records. (12A §§ 15-101/15-119, 15 §§ 960/968) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SB1598_int.rtf

SJR 36 (Snyder) - Tobacco Settlement Fund. Proposed constitutional amendment to create
a Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund; allows legislative appropriation
each fiscal year of 80 percent of the amount of net income estimated to accrue
to the fund for that fiscal year by the state treasurer, certified by the State
Board of Equalization. Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SJR36_int.rtf

SENATE RESOLUTIONS

SR 44 (Ford) - JASON SANDERS.
Congratulates Jason Sanders upon his selection as a Rhodes Scholar. Jason is a University of Oklahoma student
and won a Regents’ Award for outstanding juniors. Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00SB/SR44_int.rtf

HB 1857 (Easley/Harrison) - COUNTY GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL EDUCATION AND
TRAINING COMMISSION. Re-creates the
Commission on County Government Personnel Education and Training until July 1,
2006; includes on the commission the president of Oklahoma State
University. Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1857_int.rtf

HB 1859 (Graves) - LASER SAFETY. Creates the
“Laser Safety Act”; prohibits projection of laser on or at a participant,
including an animal, in a parade, sporting event, public musical performance,
or rodeo. Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1859_int.rtf

HB 1863 (Easley) - WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL.
States legislative intent to commit to contribute at least $265,000 to
the Washington D.C. World War II memorial; permits the Department of Veteran
Affairs to request contributions from the Oklahoma Historical Society, the
Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, the State Regents, the Department
of Human Services, and any other appropriate state agency. (74 § 8301)
Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1863_int.rtf

HB 1868 (Sellers) - WORKERS’ COMPENSATION. Gives employers or their insurance carriers
the right of subrogation to recover money paid by the employer or the insurance
carrier for workers’ compensation death claims or benefits from third
persons. (85 § 44) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1868_int.rtf

HB 1900 (Easley) - LEGAL REPRESENTATION. This
is a shell bill relating to the legal representation of state officers and
employees in actions brought against them for acts done or omitted in good
faith in the course of employment. (74
§ 20f) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1900_int.rtf

HB 1907 (Mass) - EDUCATIONAL INDICATORS.
Prohibits the use by a state officer or employee of data gathered and
published pursuant to the Oklahoma Educational Indicators Program or any information
gathered from other sources that also is contained in the reports required
pursuant to the program unless the data or information is presented in context
with the socioeconomic status and the finances of the school district;
prohibits the use of such data or information by a state officer or employee
for their own personal gain or benefit or solely for the purpose of harassing,
embarrassing, denigrating or demeaning a school district or school site. (70 § 1210.531) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1907_int.rtf

HB 1911 (Dank) - TEACHER CERTIFICATION.
Allows a teacher seeking intermediate or secondary level certification
in mathematics, who has taught in a public school as a mathematics teacher for
three or more years, to take the subject area competency examination one time
free of charge; allows reimbursement of the examination fee to a teacher who
has taught in a public school as a math teacher for three or more years and who
took the subject area competency examination between July 1, 1990, and July 1,
2000. (70 § 6-189.1) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1911_int.rtf

HB 1912 (Dank) - MENTOR TEACHERS. Modifies
the method of selection of mentor teachers to require that such teachers be
selected by the principal from a list of teachers in the district who have
submitted their names for such purpose; makes any classroom teacher employed by
the school district eligible to serve on a local professional development
committee; requires that such members be selected from a list of applicants who
have submitted their names to the local board of education. (70 §§ 6-182, 6-194) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1912_int.rtf

HB 1918 (Boyd) - TELEMEDICINE NETWORK RULES.
Directs the State Board of Health to promulgate rules for implementation
of the Oklahoma Telemedicine Network for the delivery of medical and other
health-care services through a telehealth system; requires that such rules be
based on the American College of Radiology Standards for Teleradiology. (63 § 1-2702) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1918_int.rtf

HB 1923 (Easley) - SUNSET
LEGISLATION. Removes language which
established the Selection Committee to review proposals for an ambulatory care
clinic for the University Hospitals Trust, the Advisory Committee on School
Curriculum Standards, the Joint Legislative Task Force on Expansion of Health
Insurance Coverage, the Oklahoma Task Force on Statewide Provision of Assistive
Technology, the Oklahoma Census Full Count 2000 Select Committee, the Task
Force on Electronic Commerce, the Oklahoma Futures Review Committee, the Joint Legislative
Oversight Committee for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the Oklahoma
Quality Improvement Task Force, the Joint Committee to Investigate the
Financial Condition of the State Insurance Fund and the Special Indemnity Fund,
the Task Force on Speech-Language Pathologists in the Public Schools, Task
Force 2000: Creating Twenty-First Century Schools, the Citizens’ Task Force on
Taxation, the Task Force on State Plan Options for the Temporary Assistance to
Needy Families Program, the Trucking Industry Self-Funded Research and Development
(TISRAD) Committee, the Oklahoma Task Force on Qualified State Tuition Plans
and the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot Commission.
(61 § 103.3, 70 §§ 1210.801/1210.803)
Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1923_int.rtf

HB 1928 (Dunegan) - STATEEMPLOYEES. Modifies the
time limit for an employer to pay wages to an employee to allow the state an
additional seven working days after the end of a pay period; authorizes the
administrator of the Office of Personnel Management to purchase awards for
presentation to state employees as part of employee recognition activities sponsored
by OPM; authorizes performance-based salary adjustments; modifies other sections
relating to the Oklahoma Personnel Act.
(62 § 7.10; 74 §§ 840-1.6A, 840-3.5, 840-5.5) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1928_int.rtf

HB 1941 (Claunch) - TOBACCO SETTLEMENT. Enacts the “Tobacco Settlement Act of 2000”;
requires that payments received by the state pursuant to the 1998 Master
Settlement Agreement between Oklahoma and leading U.S. tobacco product
manufactures be equally divided and deposited in a Tobacco Settlement Endowment
Trust Fund and the Tobacco Settlement Special Cash Fund; requires the State
Treasurer, by Feb. 1 of each year, to determine the annual net income of the
Trust Fund for the previous 12-month period ending Dec. 31; allows
appropriation of a maximum 95 percent of the annual net income, less reasonable
expenses for administration from the year, plus 5 percent of payments to the
Fund; allows appropriation of such funds upon a declaration by the Governor for
the appropriation with a two-thirds vote of each house or a three-fourths vote
of each house if the Governor has not issued a declaration. (37 §§ 600.13/600.17) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1941_int.rtf

HB 1943 (Ervin) - REDUCTION-IN-FORCE. Makes
provisions of the State Government Reduction-in-Force and Severance Benefits
Act apply to reductions due to reorganization, privatization or any other
action by an agency that results in affected positions being abolished and
affected employees being severed from state service. (74 §§ 840-2.27B, 840-2.27D)
Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1943_int.rtf

HB 1945 (Boyd) - EMPLOYEE INFORMATION.
Provides civil liability for any employer that, upon request by a prospective
employer or current or former employee, provides accurate information about a
current or former employee’s job performance or reasons for separation, unless
lack of good faith is shown by a preponderance of the evidence; provides
immunity for any prospective employer who relies upon such information in
making a hiring decision. (70 §
5-125.5) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1945_int.rtf

HB 1969 (Ingmire) - ABLE AGENTS/EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS. Requires that Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement
(ABLE) Commission agents appointed beginning July 1, 2000, be at least 21 years
of age and have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or
university. (37 § 570) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1969_int.rtf

HB 1987 (Kirby) - LASER SAFETY. Creates the
“Laser Safety Act”; makes it a misdemeanor to project a laser at a law
enforcement officer or a participant, including an animal, in a parade,
sporting event, public musical performance, or rodeo. (21 § 1992) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB1987_int.rtf

HB 2012 (Wells) - DIPLOMA OF HONOR. Expands
course options to qualify for a high school graduation diploma of honor to
include applied mathematics and science courses that have been approved by the
State Regents for college admission.
(70 § 11-103.2c) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2012_int.rtf

HB 2016 (Begley) - TEACHER CERTIFICATION. This
is a shell bill relating to certification of mathematics teachers in public
schools. (70 § 6-189.1)

HB 2022 (Benson) - TOBACCO SETTLEMENT. Creates
the Tobacco Settlement Fund as a depository for monies received in settlement
of claims by the state against tobacco manufacturers; requires legislative
appropriation for expenditure of such funds.
(62 § 50) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2022_int.rtf

HB 2026 (Turner) - TEACHER CERTIFICATION.
Removes the requirement that sixth-grade mathematics teachers be
certified at the intermediate or secondary level in math; permits seventh- or
eighth-grade mathematics teachers required to be certified at the intermediate
or secondary level in math to obtain such certification by successfully
completing a professional development institute in intermediate or secondary
math developed and administered by the Teacher Preparation Commission or by successfully
completing the appropriate subject-area competency examinations. (70 § 6-189.1) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2026_int.rtf

HB 2032 (Leist) - AGRICULTURE ENHANCEMENT & DIVERSIFICATION. Requires confidentiality of proprietary
information submitted to or compiled by the Department of Agriculture pursuant
to the Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Program, except to
the extent that the person or entity that provided such information or is the
subject of such information consents to disclosure; includes information of
institutions of higher education; allows discussion of such materials in
executive session. (2 § 5-3.4) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2032_int.rtf

HB 2048 (Hefner) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Requires
approval of accident and health insurance rates by the State Insurance
Commissioner; expands associations eligible for group accident and health policies;
provides that, when an individual employee who was covered under a group health
insurance plan terminates employment and gains employment with another employer
who provides for health insurance through a group plan, the carrier of the
succeeding employer may not apply preexisting conditions limitations or
exclusions of preexisting conditions or apply waiting period requirements for
the employee or dependents covered under the group plan of the previous
employer beyond the time when any surviving exclusion or waiting period with
the prior carrier would have been fulfilled, provided the individual applies
for a the new coverage within 31 days from the date of eligibility for
participation in the plan in accordance with the employment or personnel
policies of the employer for such participation. (36 §§ 4402, 4501, 4509.2)
Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2048_int.rtf

HB 2053 (Miller) - ANNUAL LEAVE/SICK LEAVE.
Increases from 25 days to 30 days the accrual rate for annual leave for
state employees with more than 30 years of service; requires agencies that deny
employees’ requests for leave to pay the employee for all annual leave they
otherwise would lose; makes state employees who terminate their employment
beginning July 1, 2000, eligible to use any unused sick leave for payment of
insurance premiums when they retire or become eligible for benefits pursuant to
the State Government Reduction-in-Force and Severance Benefits Act; allows
state employees to donate any amount of unused sick leave they have not
otherwise used at the time of termination or retirement from the state
service. (74 §§ 840-2.20,
840-2.23) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2053_int.rtf

HB 2060 (Clay Pope) - FEES.
Requires agencies charging and collecting any fee or assessment to review
the fees and assessments to determine whether the amount charged and collected
adequately reflects the demonstrated reasonable costs of operating a program or
other purpose for which they are collected; requires the refund of any fees or
assessments collected each fiscal year in excess of the amounts required by the
demonstrated reasonable costs of the purpose for which collected. (62 § 41.48) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2060_int.rtf

HB 2064 (Nance) - WORKERS’ COMPENSATION. This
is a shell bill relating to the basis of compensation, determining weekly wages
and time of service pursuant to the Workers’ Compensation Act. (85 § 21)
Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2064_int.rtf

HB 2072 (Morgan) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Provides
that decisions by a managed care plan to authorize or deny coverage for an
emergency service shall be based on the patient presenting symptoms of
sufficient severity that a reasonable and prudent layperson could expect the
absence of medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to health,
impairment to bodily functions or dysfunction of any bodily organ or part;
prohibits plans from denying an otherwise covered emergency service based
solely upon lack of notification to the plan; requires plans to compensate a
provider for patient screening, evaluation and examination services reasonably
calculated to assist the provider in determining whether the condition of the
patient requires emergency service. (63
§§ 2525.2, 2525.3) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2072_int.rtf

HB 2090 (Hilliard) - DEFINITION OF “DOCTOR”. Expands the definition of “Doctor” to
include individuals with doctoral degrees who are licensed as physical
therapists, speech and language pathologists and audiologists. (59 §§ 725.2, 731.2, 731.5, 492)

HB 2093 (Braddock) - POSTAGE/INVENTORY. Increases from $1,000 to $10,000 the amount
state agencies may expend on postage stamps during a fiscal year, instead of
using a postage meter machine; increases from $500 to $5,000 the minimum limit
on the value of machinery and implements the Department of Central Services may
have in inventory for State System institutions and the University Hospitals. (74 §§ 90.1, 110.1) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2093_int.rtf

HB 2108 (Phillips) - WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL. States legislative intent to commit to
contribute to the construction of a World War II memorial in Washington, DC;
authorizes the Department of Veteran Affairs to request contributions from various
state agencies including the State Regents.
(74 § 8301) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2108_int.rtf

HB 2117 (Coleman) - NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY/LITERACY
SERVICES. States legislative intent
that the Center for the Study of Literacy at Northeastern State University be
responsible for establishment and operation of a toll-free statewide literacy
services referral system, as funds become available; creates a 15-member Adult
Literacy Services Advisory Committee to foster coordination and collaboration
between state and local entities regarding literacy services provided to adults
across the state, develop strategies for conducting effective outreach programs
that target adults most in need of literacy remediation and for recruiting and
training additional volunteer tutors and to develop a comprehensive statewide
literacy awareness campaign to inform
functionally illiterate adults about the availability of literacy and adult
basic education services across the state; requires the committee to submit a
report by Jan. 1 of each year to the Governor and the legislature summarizing activities
and accomplishments of the committee during the past year and including
recommendations for implementing outreach strategies developed by the
Committee; requires the Department of Education, if funds are available, to
participate in the National Assessment of Adult Literacy to be conducted in the
year 2002 by the National Center for Education Statistics; states that the
purpose of the state’s participation is to allow researchers to define the
extent of adult literacy in Oklahoma and better describe the population of
adults who are functionally illiterate and to enable researchers to develop
baseline data regarding adult literacy that will be comparable to other states
that participate in the survey; repeals a section relating to re-creation, purpose
and composition of the Literacy Initiatives Commission. (70 §§ 8003/8005, 8001) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2117_int.rtf

HB 2119 (Coleman/Wilcoxson) - TEACHER PREPARATION. Requires the Teacher Preparation Commission
to adopt a series of performance levels for teacher competency examinations,
labeled advanced, proficient, acceptable and unacceptable; requires that the
percentage of students meeting each performance level be included in the
Commission’s annual report. (70 §
6-186) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2119_int.rtf

HB 2120 (Case) - STUDENT TEACHER/TEACHER PREPARATION. Modifies definitions relating to administration of school
districts; updates statutory references; requires a student teacher to be enrolled
in an institution of higher learning approved by the Teacher Preparation
Commission rather than by the State Board of Education. (70 § 1-116) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2120_int.rtf

HB 2121 (Culver) - SEXUAL BATTERY. Expands the
circumstances constituting forcible sodomy and sexual battery to include such
action committed by a state, county, municipal or political subdivision employee
or an employee or a contractor of the state, a county, a municipal or political
subdivision upon a person under the legal custody, supervision or authority of
a state agency, a county, a municipality or a political subdivision. (21 §§ 888, 1123) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2121_int.rtf

HB 2125 (Eddins) - COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
Creates a Center for Addictive Behaviors and a 13-member Addictive
Disorders Council to assist the Center; includes in the membership of the Council
the chief executive officer or designee of the College of Public Health. (63 §§ 1-275, 1-276) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2125_int.rtf

HB 2128 (Wells) - CERTIFICATION OF DISTINCTION/DIPLOMA OF HONOR. Authorizes local boards of education to
develop and issue a certificate of distinction that is awarded to students who
have met or exceeded certain criteria by the end of their senior year in high
school with at least a 3.25 grade point average on a 4.0 scale; removes
authorization for a diploma of honor; makes applicable vocational classes
offered by comprehensive high school vocational-technical programs qualify for
technology and mathematics units and allows students enrolled in the programs
to use one unit of their six concentrated vocational-technical curriculum units
for one unit of required mathematics and one unit of their vocational-technical
units for one unit of science. (70 §
11-103.2c) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2128_int.rtf

HB 2172 (Sellers) - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. Enacts the “Oklahoma Small Business
Regulatory Flexibility Act”; requires agencies, prior to submitting proposed
rules, to determine whether they affect small business and whether less
restrictive alternatives could be implemented; specifies other requirements
related to Administrative Procedures and the affect on small businesses. (75 §§ 501/509) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2172_int.rtf

HB 2174 (Sellers) - STATE REGENTS/POWERS/DUTIES. This is a shell bill pertaining to the powers
and duties of the State Regents. (70 §
3206)

HB 2183 (Adair) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Requires
insurance contracts and health benefit plans, state Medicaid contracts,
Medicare risk contracts, managed care contracts and preferred provider contracts
that include services for vision care or medical treatment and diagnosis for
the eye to allow optometrists to be providers of and to receive equal payment
for the same services provided by an optometrist that are within the scope of
practice of optometry; requires such health plans to give the patient a choice
between ophthalmologists and optometrists; prohibits plans that require
optometrists to meet qualifications that are in addition to requirements for
licensure; prohibits a construction that prevents a determination of adequacy
of network or would limit or expand the practice of optometry; requires extensions
and renewals of such plans to comply with requirements. (36 § 3634.11; 56 § 199a; 63 §§ 2505.1,
5011.1; 74 § 1327) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2183_int.rtf

HB 2187 (Gray) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Requires
education employees, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, the State
Regents, political subdivisions, local service agencies and public trusts to
participate in the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Program and to
be informed about health maintenance organization plans; modifies premium payment
options. (74 §§ 1808.l, 1315, 1314.1)
Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2187_int.rtf

HB 2220 (Settle/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS. Appropriates to the Commerce Department and
the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST).

HB 2222 (Settle/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS. Appropriates to the Oklahoma Center for the
Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST).

HB 2249 (Settle/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS. Appropriates to the State Regents and the
Physician Manpower Training Commission.

HB 2250 (Settle/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS. Appropriates to the State Regents.

HB 2260 (Settle/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS/STATE
REGENTS/PMTC/OCAST/TEACHER PREP/UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS. This is a general appropriations bill which
appropriates to the State Regents, the Physician Manpower Training Commission,
the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST),
Teacher Preparation Commission and the University Hospitals Authority.

HB 2261 (Settle/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS/STATE
REGENTS/PMTC/OCAST/TEACHER PREP/UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS. This is a general appropriations bill which
appropriates to the State Regents, the Physician Manpower Training Commission,
the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST),
Teacher Preparation Commission and the University Hospitals Authority.

HB 2263 (Settle/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS. Appropriates to the State Regents from the
Rainy Day Fund.

HB 2277 (Settle/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS. Appropriates to the State Board of
Education, Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, Teacher Preparation
Commission, and the Commissioners of the Land Office.

HB 2278 (Settle/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS. Appropriates to the State Regents.

HB 2283 (Settle/Haney) - APPROPRIATIONS. Appropriates to the State Regents from
proceeds of the sale of bonds for the construction, furnishing equipping of new
buildings, for equipping, remodeling, modernizing and repairing of existing buildings
and for other capital expenditures.

HB 2310 (Perry) - ELECTRONIC COMMERCE.
Re-creates the Task Force on Electronic Commerce until June 1,
2003. The Chancellor is a member of the
task force.

HB 2323 (Tyler) - PUBLIC BIDDING. Provides
that a penalty for disclosure of the terms of a bid shall not apply to a public
agency's engineering estimate which is not considered confidential and is open
for public inspection. (61 § 116) Bill
text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2323_int.rtf

HB 2354 (Corn) - FIRE MARSHAL AGENTS.
Specifies qualifications for Fire Marshal agents; allows successful
completion of a degree in fire protection and fire prevention, investigation or
criminal justice or administration from an accredited college or university to
be substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis. (74 § 324.4a) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2354_int.rtf

HB 2356 (Lindley) - DISABLED/COMPLAINTS. Establishes a 20-member Complaint Review System
Task Force for Persons with Disabilities until June 30, 2001; includes the
Chancellor or a designee on the committee; requires the Task Force to meet by
Sept. 8, 2000, and issue a report of findings and recommendations by Jan. 15,
2001; requires the Task Force to conduct a systematic review and study of all
policies and procedures concerning the client/consumer complaint system for
person with disabling conditions. (74
§§ 169.2a, 169.2b) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2356_int.rtf

HB 2372 (Blackburn) - SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES. This is a shell bill relating to the Smoking
in Public Places Act. (63 § 1-1523)

HB 2384 (Ross) - STATE REGENTS/POWERS/DUTIES.
This is a shell bill pertaining to the powers and duties of the State
Regents. (70 § 3206)

HB 2385 (Frame) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Requires
an insurer, if a claim is not paid within six months after receipt of proof of
loss, to pay interest at the same rate as the average U.S. Treasury Bill rate
of the preceding calendar year plus 4 percentage points; requires a health
insurer, excluding the state, the State and Education Employees Group Health
Insurance Plan, the Health Care Authority and federal Medicare carriers, to
which a health care provider submits a clean claim, to pay the claim within 30
calendar days of receipt; defines the term "preferred provider
organization" (PPO) for purposes of the Health Care Freedom of Choice Act;
removes the State and Education Employees Group Health Insurance Plan from the
definition of "insurer" for purposes of the Health Insurance High
Risk Pool Act; provides that failure for any reason on the part of a health
insurer to pay a clean claim within the time frame shall result in payment of a
penalty equal to the Bank of Oklahoma Prime plus two percentage points per
month or fraction of a month until the claim is paid. (36 §§ 1219, 1219.1, 6054, 6055, 6532) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2385_int.rtf

HB 2406 (Nations) - ADVANCED PLACEMENT/INTERNATIONAL
BACCALAUREATE. Modifies the
Advanced Placement Incentive Program to provide for test assistance for
students taking multiple tests in one year; authorizes the State Board of
Education to award certain grants; allows support of pre-advanced placement courses
and international baccalaureate courses.
(70 §§ 1210.701/1210.703) Bill
text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2406_int.rtf

HB 2423 (Askins) - TOBACCO SETTLEMENT.
Modifies the mandated apportionment for monies received by the Attorney
General on behalf of the state to provide an exemption for awarded or received
monies specifically designated as attorney fees; creates a Tobacco Settlement
Fund for monies received by the state or any official, agency or department of
the state in settlement of claims by the state against tobacco manufacturers;
requires legislative appropriation of such funds. (62 § 50, 74 § 19) Bill
text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2423_int.rtf

HB 2428 (Braddock) - OPEN RECORDS. This is a shell bill relating to the Open Records Act. (51 § 24A.3)

HB 2438 (Newport) - LICENSE PLATES/HIGHER EDUCATION
FUNDING/RETIREMENT FUNDING. Provides
for Support Education License Plates, for an additional $25 fee; requires that
$2 of the additional $25 fee be deposited to the Tax Commission Reimbursement
Fund; provides for apportionment of the remaining $23, with 5 percent going to
the Education Reform Revolving Fund, 5 percent to the Higher Education
Revolving Fund, 5 percent to the State Vocational-Technical Fund and 85 percent
to the Teachers’ Retirement Benefit Fund until the Teachers’ Retirement Fund
attains a 70-percent-funded ratio on an annual actuarial valuation, after which
time the $23 would be apportioned equally among the other education funds. (47 § 1136)
Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2438_int.rtf

HB 2454 (Seikel) - DISABILITY INSURANCE.
Decreases from six months to one month the duration-of-employment
requirement for a state employee to participate in a long- or short-term
disability plan; prohibits assessment of a preexisting condition of receiving
benefits for short- or long-term disability coverage under the Disability
Insurance Program. (74 § 1332) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2454_int.rtf

HB 2468 (Ross) - OKLAHOMA
STATE UNIVERSITY LAND TRANSFER.
Provides for the transfer of certain land in Tulsa from OSU to the
Oklahoma Historical Society to be held and used by the Society as a memorial
park for victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot.
(53 § 4.13, 74 § 8203) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2468_int.rtf

HB 2476 (Ferguson) - STUDENT
TEACHERS/TEACHER PREPARATION. Modifies definitions relating to administration
of school districts; updates statutory references; requires a student teacher
to be enrolled in an institution of higher learning approved by the Teacher
Preparation Commission rather than by the State Board of Education. (70 § 1-116) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2476_int.rtf

HB 2493 (Gilbert) - ART IN PUBLIC PLACES. Enacts the “Art In Public Places Act;”
states legislative intent to establish a program that administers that portion
of appropriations for capital expenditures or bond issues that is set aside for
the acquisition of works of art used for public buildings or on public lands;
requires state agencies to allocate a certain amount of capital project
appropriations or bond issues to acquire works of art and a certain amount for
maintenance/repair of the art works.
(61 §§ 7.1/7.6) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2493_int.rtf

HB 2495 (Covey) - ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS.
Enacts the “Administrative Hearings Act;” creates a State Office of
Administrative Hearings within the Executive Department to serve as an independent
forum for the conduct of adjudicative hearings and to separate the adjudicative
function from the investigative, prosecutorial and policy-making functions in
the Executive Department. (75 §§
351/369, 323) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2495_int.rtf

HB 2504 (Ingmire) - INCOME TAX CREDIT/COLLEGE RESEARCH. Establishes a 30-percent income tax credit
for investment in research and development projects to any accredited Oklahoma
college or university; authorizes transfer, sale or assignment of credit to
another taxpayer if proceeds are invested in the research and development
project; provides for a five-year carryforward of any unused tax credit;
establishes an income tax credit for investments in qualified depreciable
research equipment; limits credit to 5 percent of the cost of research
equipment which is not recaptured through depreciation in the first two years
the research equipment is placed in service in this state; provides for a
five-year carryforward of any unused credit. (68 §§ 2357.34, 2357.35) Bill
text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2504_int.rtf

HB 2507 (Mass) - RETIREMENT. Increases
additional increment for calculating final average salary for members of the
Teachers' Retirement System; requires system executive secretary to report on
the system's investment earnings; requires the legislature, during the second
session of each biennium in which the report indicates that earnings average 10
percent or more on assets, to give consideration to an appropriate benefit
increase to retirees. (70 §§ 17-106.1A,
17-116.13) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2507_int.rtf

HB 2508 (Mass) - ELECTRONIC COMMERCE.
Changes the name of the "Electronic Records and Signature Act of
1998" to the "Uniform Electronic Transaction Act"; provides that
the act applies only to transactions between parties which have agreed to
conduct transactions by electronic means; provides that if a law requires a
record to be in writing an electronic record satisfies the law; provides that
if a law requires a signature, an electronic signature satisfies the law;
outlines the applicability of act to certain types of transactions; provides
for evidentiary admissibility of electronic records and signatures; outlines
exceptions; provides that a contract may be formed by interaction of electronic
agents of the parties; provides that an electronic record is sent if certain
conditions are met; designates procedures to be followed regarding transferable
records; requires state agencies to determine whether and the extent to which
they will create and retain electronic records and convert written records to
electronic records; repeals sections which relate to legal effect, validity,
enforceability and retention of electronic records. (15 §§ 960/964, 966, 968, 963.1, 963.2, 964.1/964.4,
969/974) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2508_int.rtf

HB 2528 (Coleman/Wilcoxson) - EDUCATIONAL INDICATORS. Requires that the Educational Indicators
Program present information on the total amount of educational and related
services expenditures for special education programs by all school districts
and the statewide average expenditure per student in a special education
program. (70 § 1210.531) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2528_int.rtf

HB 2529 (Coleman) - SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES. Deletes language allowing educational facilities
to designate smoking areas; requires educational facilities which offer early
childhood education programs or grades K-12 to prohibit smoking and other types
of tobacco use between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. or when class or any program
established for students is in session; authorizes educational facilities to designate
smoking areas outside the building for use of adults during certain activities
or functions; allows educational facilities to have more restrictive
policies. (63 § 1-1523) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2529_int.rtf

HB 2532 (Deutschendorf) - RESEARCH/EPSCoR. Creates the Oklahoma EPSCoR Advisory Committee;
authorizes the committee to recommend to the Regents research projects
requiring matching funds and other research and systemic initiatives consistent
with the goals of the committee. (70 §§
3230.1/ 3230.4) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2532_int.rtf

HB 2555 (John Sullivan) - STUDENT TEACHERS/TEACHER PREPARATION.
Modifies definitions relating to administration of school districts; updates
statutory references; requires a student teacher to be enrolled in an
institution of higher learning approved by the Teacher Preparation Commission
rather than by the State Board of Education.
(70 § 1-116) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2555_int.rtf

HB 2565 (Nance) - WORKERS’ COMPENSATION.
Makes it a felony to submit a claim for workers’ compensation benefits
using a Social Security number different than the number used by the individual
in a prior claim. (85 § 3.4) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2565_int.rtf

HB 2582 (Frame) - HEALTH INSURANCE. Requires
that all clean claims on accident and health insurance policies be reimbursed
within 60 days after receipt of such claims; requires that in the case of
claims determined defective, the portion of a claim determined to be accurate
be paid within 60 days of receipt; requires that, upon receipt of additional
information or corrections which led to the claim being delayed, and a
determination that the information is accurate, the insurer shall either pay or
deny the claim or portion of the claim within 90 days; except as otherwise
provided, requiring that overdue payments bear simple interest at the rate of
10 percent per year; requires that, if a claim is not paid within six months
after receipt, the insurer shall pay interest at the same rate as the average
U.S. Treasury Bill rate of the preceding calendar year plus 4 percentage
points. (36 §§ 1219, 1250.7) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2582_int.rtf

HB 2586 (Hilliard) - DISABLED STUDENTS. Expresses legislative intent that students
with disabilities in the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education be afforded
the opportunity to succeed; requires the State Regents to encourage
institutions to communicate to manufacturers and publishers of instructional
materials to provide instructional materials in digital electronic format. (70 § 3241)
Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2586_int.rtf

HB 2608 (Calvey) - SAFETY. Creates an incentive in the form of additional appropriations for
agencies which comply with the requirement of employers with 25 or more
employees to designate a safety coordinator and provide safety training for employees. (85 §§ 300/307) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HB2608_int.rtf

HJR 1039 (Pettigrew) - TOBACCO SETTLEMENT. Creates the "Tobacco Settlement Act of
2000"; provides for a vote of the people to establish a Tobacco Settlement
Endowment Trust Fund and a Tobacco Settlement Special Cash Fund; provides that
moneys collected under the tobacco settlement be divided equally between the
two funds; requires the State Treasurer to administer the Trust Fund; allows
the Legislature to appropriate the net income and 5 percent of the principal of
the fund for health-related programs; authorizes the Legislature to appropriate
from the cash fund for any purpose. (37
§§ 600.13/600.17) Bill text: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/1999-00HB/HJR1039_int.rtf